The novel also carries gothic elements in it. Dorian lives enslaved to the terror of seeing his picture, because it showed the grotesque sins that Dorian had committed against others. On the "horror" side, there are the grotesque descriptions of the portrait, the terrible murder and consequent disappearance of Basil Hallward, and the general loathsome factor of the opium den and, of course, the dramatic ending of the novel with the death of protagonist.
This means that his fate has been sealed: He could not control his life anymore than he could control the picture. Therefore, the Gothic elements mentioned are clearly illustrated through the events in Dorian Gray's life. Individual lack of control over destiny, darkness and evil, the supernatural …show more content…
He has often acted as a fair narrator with the help of whom readers can analyze the thoughts and motives of other characters. Such as the thoughts and actions of Lord Henry and Mrs. Vane. The tone of the narration is also extremely judgmental throughout with regards to characters who aren't worthy of praise, ones that are either too stupid or too uncultured to merit Wilde's interest, or are just women. The examples can be Mrs. Vane and Lord Henry's wife known as Victoria. Adjectives such as “monstrous,” “terrible,” “maddening,” and “corrupt” are applied with little apparent regard to their subject in the descriptions of the “poisonous book” and of Dorian’s interests and activities. Scholars have speculated that “Wilde’s own underground homosexual life was hinted at by Lord Henry’s cynical statements and the vagueness of Dorian’s sins” (Google’s critical reviews of the …show more content…
Oscar Wilde’s preoccupation with vanity and soul combine to form the peerless character of Dorian Gray. The novel is of course for the sensitive soul and must be read objectively, or without prejudice, to enjoy the dramatic tones of Dorian’s descent. Dorian with the passage of time changes from friend to foe and from sane to insane. He first turns into a heart breaker and a ruthless murderer to an immoral person with a secretive dark side. The concluding lines of the novel suggests that; "Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes"(Ch. 24). This saying by the author clearly signifies the condition of Dorian’s soul after his
This means that his fate has been sealed: He could not control his life anymore than he could control the picture. Therefore, the Gothic elements mentioned are clearly illustrated through the events in Dorian Gray's life. Individual lack of control over destiny, darkness and evil, the supernatural …show more content…
He has often acted as a fair narrator with the help of whom readers can analyze the thoughts and motives of other characters. Such as the thoughts and actions of Lord Henry and Mrs. Vane. The tone of the narration is also extremely judgmental throughout with regards to characters who aren't worthy of praise, ones that are either too stupid or too uncultured to merit Wilde's interest, or are just women. The examples can be Mrs. Vane and Lord Henry's wife known as Victoria. Adjectives such as “monstrous,” “terrible,” “maddening,” and “corrupt” are applied with little apparent regard to their subject in the descriptions of the “poisonous book” and of Dorian’s interests and activities. Scholars have speculated that “Wilde’s own underground homosexual life was hinted at by Lord Henry’s cynical statements and the vagueness of Dorian’s sins” (Google’s critical reviews of the …show more content…
Oscar Wilde’s preoccupation with vanity and soul combine to form the peerless character of Dorian Gray. The novel is of course for the sensitive soul and must be read objectively, or without prejudice, to enjoy the dramatic tones of Dorian’s descent. Dorian with the passage of time changes from friend to foe and from sane to insane. He first turns into a heart breaker and a ruthless murderer to an immoral person with a secretive dark side. The concluding lines of the novel suggests that; "Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes"(Ch. 24). This saying by the author clearly signifies the condition of Dorian’s soul after his